Cord support



23, 194s. FQE. BROWN 2,438,143

CORD SUPPORT Filed sept. 1o, i945 Patented Mar. 23, 1948 .2,438,143` g com) SUPPORT Frank E. Brown, Burbank, Calif., assigner to Frederick M. Turnbull, Losl Angeles, Calif.

Application September 10, 1945, Serial No. 615,286

2 claims. l

My invention relates to a cord support, and more particularly to a device upon which the excess length of an electric cord associated with a wall socket may be wound.

When an electrical appliance, such as a iioor` lamp or a table lamp or the like, is connected by an electric cord to a socket cap removably connected to a Wall or noor socket, the excess length of the cord over that required to connect the lamp directly t the socket is usually permitted to lie upon the floor where it presents a hazard to those walking over it and is unsightly in appearance. Likewise, when electrical appliances, such as toasters, percolators, or the like, are connected through an electric cord and socket cap to a wall socket some distance above the door, the excess length of such cord over that required to connect directly the appliances to the wall socket is inconvenient, annoying and unsightly.

It is an object of my invention to provide a simple device by which such excess length of electric cord may be readily supported adjacent the socket so that the electric cord extends directly from the wall or iioor in which the socket is recessed to the lamp or electric appliance.

In the conventional form of removable cap for a wall or floor socket having prongs which are inserted in recesses in the socket for engagement with strip contacts within the socket, considerable physical force is frequently necessary to remove the cap from the socket, inducing the user, through necessity or inclination, to remove the cap by pulling upon the cord. This tends to damage the electric cord either at its points of connection to the cap or adjacent to the cap so that its insulation is broken and the electrical conductors within the cord are exposed. The effect of such exposure is to create a substantial hazard of shock to the user and short circuiting, causing re to the structure.

It is an object of my invention to provide a cord support of the nature described which permits the user quickly and with little eiiort to remove the cap and cord from .the socket without imposing any tension upon the cord and without touching the cord or the cap.

It is frequently desirable, as, for example, when the cap is removed from the socket, only temporarily to retain the excess length of the electric cord positioned adjacent the cap so that, when the cap is again inserted in the socket, the excess length of the electric cord is again supported adjacent the socket. It is another object of my invention to provide a cord support having means for so retaining the excess length ofthe electric cord adjacent the cap after the cap is removed from the socket.

Further objects of my invention include the provision of a device of the character described which is simple in construction, economical in manufacture, positive in operation, and attractive in appearance.

Embodiments of my invention capable ofv-ac :complishing the foregoing objects and others are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective utility view illustrating a device of my invention installed between a cap and wall socket;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational View of the cord support illustrated in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 5 is a front elevational View of the support illustrated in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the support illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5;

Fig. 7 is a front elevational view of another embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 8 is a plan View of the support illustrated in Fig. 7 and Fig. 9 is a plan view illustrating the removal of the cap by the deformation of any of the supports illustrated in the other gures.

Referring to the drawing, which is for illustrative purposes only, the numeral I I indicates a Wall plate having therein two electrical sockets I2. The sockets I2 are of conventional construction having a pair of openings i3 into which conductor prongs I4 Aci a cap I5 may be inserted for electrical contact with conductor strips not shown. The prongs I4 are maintained in electrical contact with such vconductor strips either by friction or the resilience of the prongs I4 or the conductor strips or both. The prongs I4 are connected in any suitable manner with two conductors i6 and I'I contained within an insulating sheath I8, the conductors and sheath constituting the electric cord I9 connecting the cap I5 to an electrical apparatus.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. l the cord support is indicated generally by the numeral 20. The support 2i) includes a primary member ZI comprising a central plane portion 22 and outwardly divergng arms 23. Formed 'in the central portion 22 is a pair of openings4 24 adapted for the passage therethrough of the prongs I4, which are associated with the cap I5: The central portion 22 is made suici'ently 3 thin so that no impediment is presented to the contact of the prongs i4 and their retention in contact with the `conductor strips within the socket I2 when the support 20 is installed between the cap I5 and the socket I2, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The numerals 25 indicate auxiliary arms formed on the .plane portion 22 and extending in the Vsame planeas lthe portion 22 and the diverging arms 23.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the upper and lower edges of the plane portion 22 may be rounded so that it substantially covers the socket I2, land the diverging arms 23 may be .tapered outwardly and rounded at their ends, with the auxf iliary arms 25 of an outline substantially the same as the horizontal projection of the diverg- Vmay be knurled or roughened, as indicated by the numeral 3e, to facilitate the gripping of these portions when they are moved toward each :other in order to eject the prongs Iii from the socket I2.

ing arms 23 when the support 2i) is in -its posi-- tion of use, as illustrated in Fig.Y 1. Formed on the rearward side of eachrof the kdiverging arms 23 is `an engaging lmember 26. `Each of the engaging members 25'is joined vat its rearward end to one of the divergingarms 23;and' has*anoutwardlyprojecting portion 2'! and a return portion 28 terminating a shortdistance 'fromthe rearward `suriaceof its associated diverging arm 23. Y Y

Whenthe-cord support hasbeen installed `.between the cap |5 aridtheisocketA I2, the excess lengthof the electric cord I9 maybe wound 'between the ldiverging arms 23 and the auxiliary arms and then passed between one voithe `engaging. members 26and its associated diverging armv 23 so that it is prevented,from-,unwinding .l from the support 20. V'If it is idesired, the engag-- ingmernbers 26 may be spaced from their associ- Vated arms 23 different distances, as illustrated in Fig. 3, to provide for the seouringof electric cords I9 of different diameters. The engaging mem- Vbers26'are of such dimensions" and outline as to.

of the diverging arms 23 urging themtogether,

thesplane portion 22 of the supportlisbent in a manner to eject the prongs I4 from-the socket 12,'as is hereinafter described-in greater detail. The-'central plane portion 22 lmay be provided `with-,a central opening 29 for'the receptionA of a Vscrew which may extend into the threaded opening centrally disposed in `wail and floor-sockets of conventionalconstruction-when it is desired to vattach permanently 'the support 20 to the wall uplate H. The central opening 29 maybe used for securing the support 2li to-a capV I 5 `whose construction permitsfand the opening 29v or the openings24'permit the support to .be secured to Vanyother surface for the reception of any cord wirenr the like for any purpose.

,s InFigs. 4 to 6, in which like numbers indicate -*partscorresponding to those previously described, *there is illustrated another embodiment of my 1 invention, the lcord support being indicated generally by -the'numeral 30. Thesupport '3U com- ;{prises a vcentral plane section or. portion Stand ltwo arms 32. Each of the arms 32 includes an innerY portion Y33, an intermediate'portion 34, and 1- la return portion Vt5. The inner portions 33 diverge-outwardly, the intermediate `portions 3d 3-5, them from the arms 42.

VAs illustrated in Fig. 4, the excess length of the electric cord I9 may be readily wound around the support 3B and is retained thereon by the return portions 35 of the arms 3d. This and the other embodiments of my invention may, ii de sired,'beprovided with a second pair of openings 31 in the central -plane portion 3i, so that the support may be secured between the cap i5 andthe wall plate il in either a vertical or hori- AAzontal position.

Illustrated in Figs. '7 and 8 is a cord support 39 including a central plane portieri and di verging arms ft2. .The central plane portion fi@ isprovided with a pair of openings i3 for the reception of the prongs iii. Each ci the arms `42 is provided with an engaging member lili,

whichincludes an outwardly extending portion 45 and areturn portionii, the latter terminating adjacent the surface of its associated arm 42. The engaging members in this embodiment of. the invention are formed by cutting These engaging members 44 are for the same purpose and perform thesame function as the engaging members 23 previously described.

In all of the embodiments of my invention the outer extremities of the diverging arms may be readily moved toward each other by the application of slight manual pressure. As illustrated in Fig. 9, such movement of the diverging arms bends or curves the ycentral plane portion connecting them so that it is concave outwardly.

Such deformation of the central plane portion of the support forces the cap I5 away from the Wall plate Il, freeing the prongs il from the socket I2. The facility with which the central plane portion of the support is thus deformed may be enhanced by forming the central plane portion so that it is of lesser thickness at its middle than at its extremities.

While I have illustrated and described forms of my invention, each having a pair oidiverging arms, the cord support may be formed with only onesuch arm and its connected or associated parts, and such a support nds utility particularly when it is secured in Va vertical position between the cap and the wall plate on a vertical wall, in which position the excess length ci an electric -cord of an appliance, such as an iron or razor, may be readily looped thereon.

It'will be apparent that all of the forms of my invention hereinbefore illustrated and described serve to support adjacent the wall plate and socket the excess length of an electric cord connecting the socket to any appliance. Likewise, all such forms of my invention permit of the ready removal of the cap from the socket by the deformation of the central portion of the support as a result of the longitudinal pressure of the support. Furthermore, all such forms of the nvention permit an individual to grasp the extremities of the support and thus remove the cap from the socket without touching the socket or the electric cord.

While I have described the support of my invention as used in connection with an electric cord for an electric appliance, this was only for the purpose or" illustrating its advantages by describing an example of its use. It has utility ap plied to any surface for supporting cord wire or any flexible member employed for a variety of purposes such as cord for curtains, Venetian blinds, shades, and awnings both indoors and outdoors.

While those embodiments of my invention hereinbefore illustrated and described are fully capable of performing, the objects and accomplishing the advantages primarily stated, various modications may be made vin such forms which will also embody my invention. The invention is to be understood, therefore, as not restricted to the specic embodiments illustrated and described but as including all variations thereof coming .vithn the scope of the claims which follow.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a support for an electric cord having a cap for releasable connection to a socket, the combination of: a plane section adapted for reception between the cap and socket while the cap and socket are electrically connected; arms eX- tending outwardly from said plane section; and auxiliary arms projecting from said plane section and in the plane of said plane section and behind said arms, said arms and said auxiliary arms being so spatially related as to retain coils of the electric cord therebetween during connection of the cap to and its disconnection from the socket, said plane section being formed of a dielectric material sufciently resilient as to loosen the cap from the socket by its deformation responsive to manual force urging said arms together.

2. In a support for an electric cord having a cap for releasable connection to a socket, the combination of i a plane section adapted for reception between the cap and socket while the cap and socket are electrically connected; arms extending outwardly from said plane section; auxiliary arms projecting from said plane section and in the plane of said plane section and behind said arms, said arms and said auxiliary arms being so spatially related as to retain coils of the electric cord therebetween during connection of the cap to and its disconnection from the socket, said plane section being formed of a dielectric material sufliciently resilient as to loosen the cap from the socket by its deformation responsive to manual force urging said arms together; and an engaging member carried by one of said arms and extending adjacent thereto at such a distance therefrom as to engage frictionally a portion of the electric cord passing between said engaging member and said associated arm.

FRANK E. BROWN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,531,604 Gaynor Mar. 31, 1925 1,618,723 Pearson Feb. 22, 1927 1,696,495 Mailing Dec. 25, 1928 2,051,425 Schlums Aug. 18, 1936 2,167,541 Young July 25, 1939 2,231,001 Engstrom Feb. 11, 1941 

